Wolfenstein - The New Order - Review (contains spoilers)

The story aspects to this game can be as hard hitting as a nightmare.  Seriously...if I dreamed some of the stuff this story shows...I would wake up in a cold sweat.  Not so much the violence...but the sheer brutality against the helpless; the cruelty and the perversity of actions against those the Nazi deem as 'Lesser Creatures'.   Near the beginning you are forced to make a decision.  You have to choose which one of two of your comrades gets radical eye and brain surgery in front of you (without pain killers).  It's not like either of them is a jerk.  Both characters are pretty awesome in their own way. 

**spoilers - Fergus, brave Scott that he is, puts your mind at ease.  However, selecting Fergus only gets you a shitty armor buff where the armor you pick up is worth more points (Whoopee).  It's not as good (IMHO) as the health buff (200 health eventually).   If you select Wyatt, and, if you happen to have any empathy, it sticks with you in a very bad way.  It sticks badly with Fergus too...when you run into him later...he'll help you...but he does kind of hate you. 

Which Timeline is better; Fergus or Wyatt?  Fergus.  The voice acting is better and you get a health buff.  Don't get me wrong...the armor perk is nice...but, in the later levels, 100 armor isn't hard to get anyway...so would you rather drop into combat with that AND 200 health or 100 health?  Med packs aren't usually plentiful so overcharging isn't really a smart options that I have found.  Best keep those med packs intact for when your health drops.  If you want to see the Jimi Hendrix Easter egg... then choose the Wyatt timeline.

It seems more compassionate to save Wyatt...but more logical to save Fergus.  It seems like a cool progression that the one person who is different at the Rebel Base later on reflects that choice to the ultimate degree.  Either J (essentially Jimmy Hendrix) to represent the compassionate choice or Tekla who is obsessed with math, logic and calculations to represent the logical choice.

Side rant:
[[[I swear it must suck to be German and be born into a world of shame.  "Welcome to the world - here is your first diaper - here is your first name - and here is the legacy of being the descendant of racial purist, genocidal psychopaths."   Germany today is known for its' compassion and generosity.    What happened to create Nazi party isn't just a 'Germany' lesson.  It's an 'Everyone' lesson.]]] 
 
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This is the 'Dark Knight' version of Wolfenstein.  It's like a bad dream with cool shoot outs... but, like a dream, doesn't make so much sense in all too many ways:

1.  Why are the Nazi's wearing full battle armor, running around with battle robots and gun emplacements when they haven't fought anyone in 12 years!?
 
Seriously.  There are like 6 resistance members in the whole world.  The Nazi's rule the world.  What kind of Deus ex Machina is going to reverse that chain of events!?
 
2.  Why does killing one scientist save the world?
 
Okay.  So you kill a scientist that was instrumental in the Nazi taking over the world 12 years ago.  HOW THE FUCK IS THAT GOING TO HELP NOW!?

3.  Speeding to the Resistance HQ, Klaus Kreutz with BJ in the car crashes through the railing of an overpass to land on 2 Nazi soldiers below.
 
Though this might seem like a cool thing to do...HOW DID HE EVEN KNOW THAT THEY WERE THERE!!???  He was travelling at speed crashing through an overpass railing.  Even if he happen to have had Xray vision...wouldn't it have been better to have...say...just gotten out of the car and shot them FROM the overpass?  Maybe Klaus was just a bad driver who just happen to have landed on a couple of Nazi.  In this world, it seems, you can't go to the bathroom without pissing one in the face.

4.  From the "Stupid Hollywood Bullshit" category.  One of your comrades stumbles upon an armor that can destroy the toughest opponents in the blink of an eye...but you don't get it because...uh..."Finders keepers".  You convince them to give it to your crippled friend. 

You are facing certain death from a couple of the toughest bots in the game while you are on the floor in front of them.  In a flash of light your pal has them both trashed.   She's in her fancy new armor.  Did I also happen to mention that the armor flies!?   You're 2 levels down on the food chain and then some at that point.  Game over.  Go back to base and practice making babies with Anya.  Caroline, in the fancy Da'at Yuchat (or whatever) Flying armor of death wins.  Nope...nope...Caroline is busy knitting...or whatever...and the armor is hers...you can't have it.  So go smash your face against Nazi oppression some more.  >Forehead slap< "Idiots".  Was this directed by Joel Schumacher!?

5.  Stealth mission to start.  You are at a checkpoint with Nazi patrols.  You pull up in a car and get out of the trunk.  Anya's uncle shoots the guard in the face with a shotgun.  The other guards don't seem to hear this.  If you happen to be within 20 feet of him, he will yell at you with a thick Polish accent so loud that his voice will reverberate off of the walls of the compound to "kill every Nazi in the area so that they can move forward!".   
 
Oddly enough, None of the Nazi heard him.

6.  It almost looked like a Monty Python skit.  You turn the corner and find the resistance crowding in a corridor.  You're half gutted and drugged.  They say "OMG are you okay?"  Then they say "Hey! it's the elevator...  lets go!"  and they all run off leaving you there on the floor...including your "True Love".  You 'Get Better' a second later and are helping people out of the elevator soon after that.  Seriously!?
 
I know it's a game...bullet holes close up and expunge bits of shrapnel.  Organs regenerate...etc...but when the writing gets involved?

7.  5 seconds to get away from a dying old man with a grenade should be 4 seconds more than you need. 
 
Explanation?  Nah...spoilers.
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The game itself plays very well.  The writing for the dialogue was quite excellent.  There is a wonderful Easter Egg of an old 1992esque Wolfenstein level.  That was quite tasty.  There was also a resistance member; a black guitar player who played his guitar reverse.  He was only referred to as 'J'.  You guessed it.  Alternate reality Jimi Hendrix. 

The game features an achievement section that rewards with perks.  This provides extra challenges within the game itself.  You don't get some innocuous reward that doesn't really mean anything... you get in-game benefits (larger mag, extra ammo cap, speed boost, etc).  You can also find weapon upgrades, permanent health and armor boosts (given the timeline), Enigma codes to unlock special features.  In the beginning, it almost seems like 'Too much'.  If you are like me, manually searching for all this stuff isn't really the game I like playing.  Look it up on Youtube. 

There is one snag in the execution of this game:  The key most games use to crouch is actually the 'Select fire' option on your primary weapon.  This can get you into trouble.  Often there is so many options, it gets mind boggling.  There is a 2 weapon mode; where you can equip 2 of the same weapon at once.  There is a select fire button on your primary weapon AND a select fire option for the secondary.  All 3 of those buttons are right next to each other.  Press the wrong button and you are in a world of confusion...and the action happens fast.  '6' is the shotgun...and '5' is the sniper.  '3' is the Handgun...and 1 and 2 are the knife and grenade 'at the ready' buttons.  Though I'm perplexed to understand why you would have either since there is a button that says 'Take this out and use it' for BOTH!  So I am constantly pressing 2 for a pistol and looking at a grenade "Yup...that's a grenade".  I press 3 for an assault rifle and find myself holding a pistol.  Finally getting it straight that 4 is the assault rifle, I choose the next weapon up for close range devastation, which would be the shotgun... so pressing 5...I get...THE SNIPER RIFLE!?  '6' apparently is the shotgun.  Fortunately, however, the game does remember your configuration for a particular slot.  IE. if you had double pistols with silencers, if you went to another weapon and came back, you would still have that same configuration. 

Basically the keys are kind of confusing...it does provide you with some cool options that other games don't.  Peeking around cover is back.  You could look over cover, beside cover, hell... you can even look below cover.  Sprint sliding is a bit of a trick.  You can't, however, look to the side and strafe sideways even with a hat and cane...so BJ will never star in any musical...but hey... sacrifices for the common good, right? 

It was a pretty dark and grizzly game.  I know many adults who would be too sensitive for the cut- scenes.  It makes 'Clockwork Orange' look like a Brittany Spears video.  Physically, it's a great game.  The key configuration is a little warped but PC users can modify that.  It doesn't have the same feel as old Wolfenstein...and I miss the SS leather fetish brigade.  However, this really wasn't the kind of game that they should have been in.  It's too...heavy...for that.

 

That said, I expect we will see the return of Frau Engel in DLC.  Possibly with the aid of her 6 daughters...and who knows?  Maybe they'll be wearing some fancy outfits.  I doubt it though.  Frau Engel has us all good and spooked.  ID isn't going to let that go without playing it for all its' worth. 

 

Of Honorable mention:

 

The soundtrack is excellent.  Melissa Hollick singing 'I Believe' at the end will get you a little misty unless you don't have a soul.  I can't help you there.  The general ambient music reflects well to the background. 

 

'Fergus' is a laugh in a can.  This guy is smart, noble, charismatic, daring and calm under pressure  I think all games should have one guy who tells the main protagonist to 'fuck off'...you know... to keep them grounded xD...and, in this game, that's Fergus. 

 

Adding bonus modes changes the game experience enough to add replay value (though it would be good to have an 'Achievement' for accomplishing each).

 

You get a sense of who Blazkowicz is.  He is actually a pretty sweet guy provided you aren't a Nazi.  Well done!   

 

Use of 'Map's and alternate routes helps me from feeling like a mouse in a tube and maximizes the variation in strategies.

 

There are times when it is better to be stealthy and assassinate...than to go in with guns blazing.  This variation adds to a more well rounded experience.

 

Summary:

 

Wolfenstein: The New Order - is a solid shooter.  I played the hell out of it.  It doesn't have the replay value of most sandbox games...but it was well crafted with good characterization.  8.8/10  (damn good)

 

Duke Nukem - The Doctor who Cloned Me

This is classic Duke.  This is balls to the wall - fun in a fancy hat - Half Naked women - COMPLETELY politically incorrect ...and it just doesn't give a fucking shit...and I LOVE IT!!!

$3 on Steam!!!  You'll get 10 times your money in laughing value alone.  In this DLC, Duke puts the fun in the front seat.  Technically it isn't a 'Sandbox' which means you are still going from point A to Point B...But it feels more like a funhouse than a museum tour.  There are puzzles requiring a level of thinking.  A few times I almost looked it up. 

The old 2 weapon max has been long since bypassed (even in the main game).  You now can carry 4...with a couple of new weapons... the pregnator and the enlarger.  The only problem is that there is only one button to cycle between them.  You can, however, customize the controls to bind each slot.  Trying to cycle weapons sucks in a firefight.  I would bind 1 (the cycling weapon key) to 4 to each slot...and reallocate the laser trip mine to (say) H.  I love my PC. 

This expansion does the original 3d Justice.  I only wish they brought back the jet pack.  That`s it.  The people who crafted this game must have done so with a smile on their face from start to finish.  There are those that say Duke Nukem is a misogynistic game that objectifies women.  That it is 'out of tempo with the modern mindset'.  To those I say; it is my honor to treat my wife with dignity and respect.  If I had to explain it to you...you still wouldn't get it.  8.5/10. 

Pewdiepie - love him or hate him?

What do I think about Pewdiepie?  Well...as it turns out, I love him AND hate him.  You know it's a free world when a man can put videos on Youtube of himself playing a game and screaming like a little girl for 5 minutes...or however long his videos are (I can't listen to this dipshit for more than 10  seconds without wanting to kill him with my bare hands).  The fact that he can do this, make several hundred thousand, and be (common law) with a successful, sexy Italian lady...means that he is doing something right.  What is he doing right?  He is the next thing.  He is the way that teeny boppers annoy their parents.  A lot of us did it in our time in different ways.  The kids come into the fold and find that through their numbers, they have strength.  If this was the street...it would be a gang.  Pewdiepie, being older (I think 24), and still acting like a 13 year old on too much sugar, connects with his audience.  Peter Pan here wants children to be okay with who they are RIGHT NOW and to never grow up.  His message is strong:  "I make money acting like an idiot".   This role has got people riled up. 

I respect those that choose to do what they want - no matter how outrageous - as long as they are not hurting anyone in any way, shape or form.  It takes guts.  In a perfect world, freedom is God!  We could choose to do ANYTHING...because we would be 'perfect' and always make responsible choices.  But it's not a perfect world.  In this world, you can choose to ring any bell you want to... but you can't UNring ANY of them.  So freedom with a bunch of idiots running around doing and saying anything they want leads to the need for restrictions...censorship.  The wisdom of; too much the former leading to the latter - is one of responsibility. 

So what is it worth.  Can you imagine...one of your older relatives...someone who has seen death up close...who has been shot at in armed conflict.  People who fought and died for the freedom that we now have.  Can you imagine coming up to them and saying: Thanks for giving me the freedom to watch this Swedish comedian scream like a little girl for huge money on international media!  OMG he is SO FUNNY!  Would you mind bleeding over there...these are designer shoes.

It`s a sad fact that this generation of kids is, perhaps, the lamest group of people who have ever lived.  They spend MANY hours in front of the computer or on their portable devices.  They don`t exercise nearly enough.  They don`t eat right.  They are self-centered with a strong sense of entitlement.  When they feel like the shit heads that they are, they go onto the Internet with Trollin`on their tiny minds.  They don`t need some Swedish Peter Pan telling them to never grow up...and you can act like an idiot all you like. 

So what does this all have to do with Pewdiepie?  He makes his money screaming like a little girl ... so?  Who is his target audience?  Impressionable young people.  Maybe they all want to grow up and be just like him...or...more to the point: NOT grow up.  So...how many 100's of 1000's of Dollars did he make?  And who is REALLY paying?

That's my point

Update: I watched a video of Pewdiepie ... and it actually didn't suck.  It was for one of the games that I used to play...so I checked it out.  He didn't say all that much that was meaningful...but I get it now.  He is just emotionally right there on the table.  He's your buddy.  I remember having pals like this back when I was really young.  I think young people need this connection and with the world rife with mistrust and social media being so predominate; there is definitely a need for this sort of connection.  The trick is that, though it feels like a connection, it's only one way.  He has how many million fans?  He can't know them all.  A smart man; he recognized a social need on a social medium ...and made a few bucks playing games. 

Pewdiepie is a symptom of an unhealthy social trend.  I don't object to him providing supply where there is a demand.  I am more sad that there is a demand in the first place.  Pewdiepie is iconic of someone who can choose to freely do something that might annoy you.  Your reaction to his freedom to do something is not his responsibility.  I find that aspect to him quite liberating.

The Tyranny of the Multiplayers

I was a big fan of the original 'Battlefield Vietnam'.  I noticed that Battlefield 2 'Bad Company' had a Vietnam expansion complete with music of the era!  "Nice!" I thought "Time to upgrade". 

Battlefield Vietnam originally had sandbox like maps in which you achieved objectives.  You could play it Multiplayer, or with Bots.  Generally, friendly bots tend to be pretty stupid...and the enemies tend to be much less so.  It's up to you to overcome the failing of your allies and win the game. 

As old as "Battlefield 2 Bad Company" is, it was still $20!  The Vietnam expansion for it was another $15!  "Fine" I thought "Battlefield Vietnam was a great game for how many years?  They must have done some work on those bots to make them smarter.  It should be fun".  Well, after spending $35, I found out that "Battlefield 2 Bad Company Vietnam" is "MULTIPLAYER ONLY"!!!   I guess I should have looked at the fine print.  Who does that?  I don't mind playing a computer game against people I know.  People I can reach over and smack in the head if they call me something obnoxious.  As long as women have sex with assholes (as they seem to do a lot of) there will be children who aspire to "Dad's" example.   I'm not saying that all Multiplayers are like this...in fact, most are not.  But, like I said before, it doesn't take much shit to contaminate the stew. 

So, besides the lack of social accountability, what else is bad about multiplayer?  Well, multiplayer turns any game into a competitive event.  To that extent, I play a game because it entertains me... not because I want to compete with other players.  If I play a game with another person, I generally prefer a cooperative mode that improves teamwork  and communication.  That's what I like.  Not everyone is the same.  A "Multiplayer only" game should say that in the LARGE PRINT...not the fine print!  I suppose this is EA's excuse to say "We just don't know how to make a better bot".   So it's a fucking map with ports!!?!?  Wow!  Don't break your brain making that, EA!!!

Time management:  When I play a game, my responsibilities outside of that game take precedence.  If I need to be called away...it is no problem.  Life, love and opportunity wait for no man.  Your wife, your boss, your parents, or the dinner you have heating up on the stove is not going to enjoy taking a back seat to your online game. 

I've been waiting over 10 years for a decent MechWarrior game to come out.  No sooner did Microsoft sell the franchise than they made their own MechWarrior game entitled TITANFALL.
MechWarrior 5 (Titanfall) - "Because our lawyers are better than your lawyers" - Is MULTIPLAYER ONLY.  This incredible looking game may generate much revenue amongst the Microsoft servers.  I've spent 20 years putting up with what only Microsoft (those slimy bastard) lawyers and well paid off judges refer to as "Not a monopoly" as they use manipulative market tactics that would make a pimp blush.  (enough of a rant on that).  Apparently Titanfall has a story...which you will never actually hear because your team will be a mile away by the time any dialogue manages to finish.  Microsoft is obviously using the same intuition that we've all come to know and love from their office products. 

In summary; there was a time when Multiplayers were off playing Counter-Strike... Team Fortress ... the Call of Duty Series ...etc.   Now, with the money going to online game services, Multiplayer is more lucrative than ever.  With less effort being spent on AI and game flow, more profit can be attained with less overhead.  Through the safety of anonymity with minimal accountability in some games, players can be excessively obnoxious.  Obsessive Multiplayers (92% of which are men) will find themselves single and unemployed a lot more than ever before.  This sedentary activity reduces the likeliness of healthy choices in diet and exercise.  Though all computer games generally have this aspect to them,   multiplayer games have the extra quality of not always feeling like you have the option to leave.  To a gamer it would feel like being a player and walking off the field in the middle of a game (Soccer, baseball, etc.).  

Just say 'No' to 'MMO'

Survivor Cagayan Finale

As Trish got up and walked away it created a gap between Spencer and the other three that were there.  Was this a strategic placement of people to highlight the analogy of a rift between Spencer and the rest of the tribe?  

I said before that it would be epic if Spencer were to be in a position to 'Pull the plug' on Kass (the Ass).   Despite being a victim of circumstance, Spencer has fought hard to remain in the game.  "Chaos Kass" as she likes to call herself, screwed him and 4 other members of her alliance over for no other reason than pure whimsy.  Playing both sides, she continued to lie to her original alliance and side with Tony and his gang...and screwed her original alliance over a second time.   With her emotional decisions being defended as "Strategy".  Her continuously having the gender card on standby where hatred for her random (Chaotic) behaviour can be so deflected as "because she is female".   I originally said that Kass was an idiot at the start of this season.  I have looked for reasons to contend with this original assessment and found none.  Kass is the worst kind of idiot...one that has a reason to believe she is smart.  It's like my ex landlord (who happened to be a doctor) who installed a deadbolt with the key port on the inside.

It is said that Kass is "The Goat".  An unpopular player that is useless in every regard.  You bring "The goat" to the end because you know that you will win against them. 

 

The immunity challenge was heartbreaking.  I'm a Canuck fan, so I'm used to all my seasons ending with a big kick to the nuts but wow.  4 remaining members standing on poles 13 feet above the surface of the water.  They have a small bucket on a rope that they toss down into the water and pull up to fill a tube that causes their key to rise up to them.  You take that key...unlock a chest and pull out some puzzle pieces to make a puzzle.  There are like maybe 12 pieces in all.  Kass is hopeless at the physical portion of this challenge.  All of the other 3 are doing their puzzles while she is still trying to get her key.  Yay!  Kass Won't Win!!! Hurrah!!!  But wait!  It's like Deja Vu  all over again (as if I was back to watching the Canucks in another playoff)...the men collectively look like chimpanzees trying to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics.  This gave the spaz monster enough time to get her key... get her pieces and win immunity.  Scoring high with spatial representation is large with any IQ test and is largely responsible for mostly stupid people thinking that they are always 'Smart'.  However, in this case, she is specifically smarter than her fellow competitors and won it.  

 

Without immunity, though making an excellent case to Tony, Spencer is in trouble again.  Kass isn't even thinking about Tony's "Immunity Idol" being valid.  She's been wanting to vote Spencer off  forever, since he's the last member of her former alliance that she screwed over.  Tony isn't buying Spencer's "Plan" and, after fighting like hell to stay "Alive", He was sent packing. 

 

In the final 3, Kass talks to Woo.  They both agree that to "Not vote for Tony would be the stupidest thing ever"  (in Woo's words).  Could this have been her plan all along?  Cruise into the final 2 by being simply Goat - Tastic, and to be there with some doughnut who has cruised there on blind circumstance?  Two strong members eliminated and all that is left is the strategic goat and the mindless doughnut.  In this case, the goat should win it simply because being unpopular was her plan to be in the final 2. 

 

As it turned out, woo won final immunity.  It was entirely up to him who he was going to compete against in tribal council.  Despite what he said about "It would be the stupidest thing EVAR for me not to vote for Tony" ... He didn't vote for Tony.  His reasoning was that it was better to have someone there who "Deserved" to be there than someone who didn't.  He made mention of the 5 honorable traits of Tai Kwon Do and how they "served as his barometer" in Survivor.  What bullshit.  Did he happen to mention the "Honorable Traits" of a man who swore on his wife, baby girl and the grave of his father and then betrayed his oath 3 times!?  Don't get me wrong.  Tony played to win.  His words were his weapons and he would say ANYTHING to get things going HIS way.  Tony won because he lied and backstabbed his way to the end.  It conflicted with who he was as a person.  An actual decent person (in real life).  The only thing that "took Woo to the end" was circumstance. 

Tony won (as I predicted 6 episodes ago).  The hatred for the goat (Kass)  was so strong that she would not have won (given the votes at the end).  Woo made, literally, a million dollar mistake.  One of many that I seen him make through out this season.  I barely mentioned him before simply because he was so lacking in his willingness to play his own game.  He was simply a number that someone else was controlling.  In the end, he made the wrong choice.  Maybe he felt he couldn't compete against Kass either and just wanted to choose the person who deserved more to win. 

 

 

 

Survivor Cagayan Season 28 - Episode 12 - Post episode comments

Once again, Survivor entertains! 

Early in the game we see Spencer expressing his annoyance at Woo and Kass for entering into an alliance with him if they were just going to vote with their original alliance anyway!  Kass'  saying that it was part of a strategy fell flat after Spencer pointed out that they didn't need "a strategy" considering they were voting with the numbers ANYWAY!

By mentioning the defunct 'Counter Alliance' in front of Tony...and the absurdity for the reasons to have created it just as a 'Red Herring' as Kass suggested, Spencer has painted a target on the back of both Kass and Woo.  NICE! 

I love this guy!

 

Tony is quick to pick it up.  He needs his alliance to stay together so that they can take out Spencer.  He takes Kass aside and tells her basically:

'I understand what you did...I can forgive you for trying...but don't let it happen again'. 

A delusional Kass decides that Tony is 'A Bully'; 'A Mafia Don' ... and no one likes him.  Therefore she is 'Surely' to win at the end!  The actual fact is that Tony is playing this game with all the tools in his massive tool kit (and that's not a double entendre so don't get weird XD).  The man can lie with sincerity!  His Charisma keeps his Alliance together despite all his trespasses against it!  He is quick to collect and engage with those he suspect might sway.  His ability to find Idols?  He must be half blood hound.  He can tell if someone is lying.  This guy is detective material.  He can step it up in challenges if he needs to.  His influence over his alliance NEVER includes any overtones or undertones of violence (unlike Russell Hanse).   This guy?   He's the man!  Kass has pissed Tony off but he returns it to her confidently and playfully in observed ridicule to her social mind games.   NICE!   Despite barely being able to tolerate Kass, Tony also understands that she is useless in challenges and everyone really hates her.  For him to not only bring himself to the final vote, but to bring Kass there as well?  What a feat of social engineering that would be!  I, however, would hate for that to happen.  Spencer BELONGS in the final 2 for the fight he has had.

 

(Trish and Kass respectively)

 

Kass?  She's just good at pissing off people.  Most of her 'Strategies' (though I'm loathe to call them that)  are questionable and defy reason.  I've never seen anyone so sure of her position in any disagreement and so wrong at the same time.  Though a general failing of academic types everywhere...this fault she has taken to 'Tea Party' extremes.  I have to believe that this woman isn't as evil as Survivor portrays her to be...I HAVE TO!

 

 

In the reward challenge, Tony filled his bucket to the point of overflowing  (Maybe I should point out that it is mud in that bucket XD).  I figure, compared to the other 4, he's got the most surface area.  He selected Trish to join him for pizza - flown in by helicopter - on the beach.  Pretty cool!  While they were off chowing down; Kass, Spencer and Woo were discussing their options.  Trish has been like a wife to Tony...but he has clearly taken the strategic lead.  The other three figured that they needed to break up this alliance or hand the game to Tony without a fight. 

 

Spencer, being Tony's biggest target needed to win immunity.  Not only is he external to Tony's original alliance...the only one left, in fact...but he's a powerful player in both challenges and the ability to understand and undermine Tony's advantage.  Tony has been making brief statements here and there about Spencer's ability to win challenges...keeping in the forefront of everyone's minds the fact that "If you never beat this guy...he's going to win".  The almighty target is on Spencer. 

 

This guy has survived the wars!  He has used his words to rattle Tony into actions that were counter - productive to the integrity of that alliance.   He has survived all the odds arrayed against him.  It was Kass' betrayal that made every day a survival situation for Spencer.  It was out of his hands and yet he has used his mind to further him into the game.  No one deserves more accolades for how hard and smart this guy has played the game.  His struggle has been...epic.  I would LOVE to see him 'pull the trigger' on Kass.  I'm now one more episode closer to the possibility of that!

 

In the Immunity Challenge, Tony establishes a decent lead but gets stumped on the final puzzle.  This allowed Spencer to come from behind and win it.  One more day for Spencer (Yay!) and one less number from Tony's alliance. 

 

Kass pushed Trish too far and she (Trish)  'Went off' on her.  Well who could blame her?  Kass is the person Tony is 'Taking along' with him to guarantee his win.  That's it!  She may get to the final 2...by way of the simple fact that she is the most naturally obnoxious person there... but she will only win in crazy land...and she is the only person who can't see it.  Yet Trish went way over the edge.  I suppose she couldn't hold it in any longer.  Kass doesn't just lack in 'people skills', she is acutely aware of any subtle slight against her while completely oblivious to her own bullshit.  The perfect 'Victim'.  Once again, this is a failing of some intellectuals who believe their point of view being superior to 'those of lesser intelligence'.  They also believe that they can both argue and judge the same argument, oblivious to their own partisan hypocrisy.  (Diverting a rant here)

Earlier, Tony told Trish that he has both idols.  The regular idol can be used only when there are 5 people left.  His 'Special' idol can be used when there are 4 people left.  The reality of it, and Tony already knows this; after the 5th person is voted out...neither idol holds any power.  With the rest of the team thinking that Tony is 'untouchable' for another vote, and assuming the rest of the team doesn't get filled in, Tony's perceived immunity becomes real...he's going to have a good laugh after the next vote!  That's just - The guy is just pure chutzpah!

Interestingly enough, Spencer called it.  Several episodes ago he said that Tony was just "Lying all the time."   I love that guy...I repeat for emphasis!

At tribal council, not surprisingly, Trish is voted off.  Surprisingly, however, Tony was one of the people who voted for her.  Tony is setting himself up to spin his decision and reinforce his deception with the 'Special Immunity Idol' (that is no longer special).

With a keen understanding of the game, that we've known and have come to expect from Kass, she realizes that every vote counts and waves 'Goodbye' to Trish using only one finger.  

In the words of Jeff Probst: "...Wow..."

 



Survivor Cagayan - S28 E10 Post episode comments

With this Episode, Survivor has jumped to the head of my favorite reality shows!  It started with Kass announcing how smart she was for "Having a read" on her former Alliance mate; Spence.  She said that "He was more relaxed and wasn't so mean to me".  Well I'm not sure if the cameras pick everything up...but the only time I've seen Spence "Mean" to Kass is when he had a damn good reason for it. 

OH HAPPY DAY!  Spencer and Tasha survived AGAIN!  YAY!  Dare I even hope they are one day closer to pushing the button on Kass.  We get another clue to Kass in that she says "There is nothing more selfish than a college-aged man".  I don't think you should be talking about "Selfish", Kass.  There is something more black than the kettle and it's your SOUL!!!  Okay... good things about Kass:  I love...to hate her.  She makes for entertaining TV.  She's not too far from the deep end of the ocean...just in case the world decides to drop her and the rest of the lawyers off there.  She's wearing a pretty shirt in the picture.  Hmmm...that's about it.

The reward challenge was an auction.  Tony ...Survivor's Super Soldier... along with Tasha and Spencer held out amidst the gourmet food chomping masses for an edge in the competition.  Woo, Jefra, Trish and Kass all got to eat for cheap.  $500 from Tony and Spencer was dropped down on the "Clue to a benefit in the competition".  Tasha thought there would be another auction after that one that she would have been in prime position to pounce on...but there wasn't.  I suppose she could have asked.  Tony won the clue.  As it turned out; it was a clue to a regular immunity idol.  Tony found it quick.  Now with two idols; one regular and one special; Tony is almost guaranteed to be in the final four.  He deserves it.  He has played an excellent game. 

Spencer and Tasha...I swear...every week I love these two more and more.  Spencer was back at camp 'Working on' Tony while Tasha is in the water with the 4 remaining women.  The one chink in Tony's armor is that he can be rattled.  The bug that Spence put in Tony's ear is that 'the women' may be forming an alliance.  Nice!  With there being 4 women and 3 men, there was a real possibility of it.  So, despite all of Tony's swearing on his wife, his life, his baby, and his mother last game, he ditched the alliance and targeted Jefra (the person that he made those oaths to).   Wow... 'Fool me twice'.  And the look on Kass' face just said it all.  She looked like she was going to cry.   It made my night!

I can't think of a more worthy loser than Princess Jefra.  She played it like an idiot right up to the blindside.  Flip flopping and displaying every thought in your head isn't the way you play ANY kind of social game! 

Is Tony now allied with Spencer, Woo and Tasha?  Will the master of social engineering salvage his alliance from YET ANOTHER of his breaking it!?  Spencer called it!  He said "Tony will say anything to get you on his side.  He knows how this game works". 

In the immunity challenge, Tasha won it; FOR THE THIRD TIME!  This amazing woman just keeps getting sexier and sexier!

...With mental discipline and physical excellence...not to mention she has a really beautiful smile!
Her union with Spencer is solid.  They make an excellent team.  Though Tony's first choice for voting...since she won immunity...that target got switched to Jefra to make sure the women don't pull an alliance of their own.  Spencer and Tasha engineered Tony's second betrayal of the alliance.  SWEET!  Though, right now, it would take a miracle to keep Tony from winning this thing... but I'm not sure that's a bad thing.  Spencer, Tasha and Tony deserve to be in the final 3.  

...and when they finally push the button on Kass?  It will be one of those epic moments in Survivor history :)